If you have ever used the Internet, then you have undoubtedly stumbled onto uncouth websites by accidentally typing in the wrong web address. Perhaps you were trying to research, but you didn’t know which key terms to put in the search engine and now your computer is filled with annoying ads. Some people, out of sheer confusion, end up giving away their e-mail address to unreliable websites, and then their e-mail inboxes are bombarded with spam mail. What’s an Internet peruse-er to do? Well, whether you are a “baby boomer” or from the millennial generation, we all now live in a world dominated by computer usage. The best way to safeguard oneself from online spam attacks is to keep in mind these tips while you are surfing the web. First, understand how online advertising works: the companies can track what you search on your search engine, so you need to be very careful how you search a topic. If you search for the nearest meeting place for a Weight Watcher’s club, don’t be surprised when ads making claims like, “Lose eight lbs in five days!” pop up on the side of your Internet browser. Since there are over 200 million people on Facebook, many of you will understand those perturbing ads on the side of your Facebook page. Again, advertisers will look for words on your profile, or use what you were searching online to create ads just for you.
The moment I began researching for graduate schools on Google, I opened up a world of graduate school ads for my Facebook page. If you are receiving many off the wall ads on your Internet page or Facebook page, then you need to evaluate what is being searched on your computer. Hint to parents: all of those advertisements about online gaming that are spamming your computer indicates that little Benny or Jane is probably aching to play that new World of War Craft game. Does this mean we should fear Internet browsers or online advertisers? No. Rather, be a smart Internet user. When you are typing a website into the browser box, make sure it is correct. Just the other day, I misspelled www.facebook.com and it brought me to a completely different, not kid-friendly website. Don’t be surprised that what you search for online will come back in one way or another through advertisements; the companies are trying to figure out what you like (based on your search) and offer you alternatives. This is why parents are encouraged to oversee their child when he or she is online; who knows what they could stumble across! If you are on a website that asks for your email address, you could refrain and spare yourself the spam, or put your address but take yourself off of any pesky mailing lists. Lastly, be Internet savvy. While I have given you a few tips, people who are still uncertain how to navigate the World Wide Web should take advantage of classes or tutorials, which will help Internet users become more aware of this huge medium in which they are participating.